I Get To

How often in our every day life do we grumble and mumble, and complain about how we “have to” do certain things. We have to get this stuff done so we can go do that other thing we want to. We have to finish our work before we can go out and do anything fun. If it is a lot of “I have to” and it’s not fun…. That mindset will mess us up. We lose the joy of seeing and experiencing things in the moment and everything becomes an obligation. We take for granted maybe what a lot of other people would give so much to be doing. We take for granted even everyday things our body does that others physically can’t do. “We HAVE to” go to the gym to work out when someone in a wheelchair might be watching us wishing for our life and freedom to just be able to go work out. “We HAVE to” talk to our grandparents when someone’s loved ones might have just died and they wish they were like us and still had them around…. We can’t go through life like this. We can’t live with the dragging feet always complaining about things.. No we have to look at all of this in a completely different mindset and viewpoint. We GET to do all these things. We GET to go to the gym and do leg day. We GET to call our grandma and tell her how much we love her. We GET to go to work and make money for our plans and goals down the road. We are so blessed and get to enjoy these things! They are not a drudgery….

Now there are definitely some things out there that are hard to break the “I have to” mentality about for sure. Chores, boring jobs, things you just really don’t want to do, but in all honesty you have to! We have to find the silver lining though in everything. We have to be able to look for the good in our situations and try to see the bigger picture. For example with chores you can think about it in the way of you are getting to help your loved ones out with housework! Boring jobs, you are getting to earn money and provide for those who need your help….. We have to actively look for the good. It is a constant cycle, an ongoing journey. We are always working on finding the positives and the blessings. Counting our blessings instead of counting our complaints. And these blessings can be whatever personally keeps you going. They can be unique and completely special to you. Don’t let other’s laugh at your reasoning’s because they don’t make sense to them. Something someone else is grateful for might not make sense to you, but you know it matters to them so you support them.

Every day we have little blessings, little glimmers of hope that pop up for us randomly making those moments so special to us. We shouldn’t have to explain and fight for why we do things then. Other’s should support and love us. I know some of my silver linings and blessings seem a bit odd for me even, but they are what make me happy. Cooking shows that calm me down, certain foods that give me flashbacks, certain workout clothes that make me look extra fit…. Random, but they make me happy. So my thought process is then, “I am so grateful I get to go to the gym today and have the time to, plus I’m wearing my favorite workout shirt so this gets even better!” Or “I’m glad I was able to help conquer the dishes tonight so I have kitchen space to try that new recipe I found off my favorite show. I don’t like washing dishes, but I’m glad I get to help spruce up a bit.” No blessing is too small; no silver lining is too thin to not appreciate. Don’t ever feel like anything you truly care about and are grateful for is too insignificant.

Starting and ending each day by counting and recounting your blessings can really help with the “I get to” mindset. Take the time each morning to find that mindset and space so you can conquer your day with an open and thankful heart. We want to go through every moment of our day bright eyed and happy to be where we are. Life is too short to live any other way in my opinion. We get to make the choice then every day to make life exciting. To walk with purpose each day and gratefulness for the little things throughout our day that we “get to do.” Then at the end of the day before heading off to bed we can look back on all the things during the day that happened to and for us, and find those special moments. If we couldn’t exactly find the silver lining in the moment looking back at it at night we usually can find the blessings. What if we woke up each day with only the things we had appreciated and been thankful for the day before? The things that we had gotten to do instead of had to do….. There will always be things that we have to do; I am not saying that disappears. No instead our mindset is crucial. Sure we might have to do something, but we should think instead of just “I have to do this thing”, instead think, “I have to do this thing, but I’m also super grateful I get to do it as well. The bigger picture will show itself I’m sure.”

Choose joy each and every day. Choose gratefulness every moment. Choose to be that kind and thankful person that finds the goodness in everything. The bigger picture might not be seen right in the moment, but even so work on putting the pieces together. Consciously choose each day to be a light and live through actions. We are all so incredible and get to do so many incredible things! I hope you all have a wonderful Monday. Xo

Always be kind! xo